Verizon Wireless cuts 3,200 jobs

Verizon Wireless is cutting 3,200 call center jobs across the country. ABC reports that call centers in California, Connecticut, Maine, Nebraska, and New York will be closed.

“Verizon Communications brags about being the nation’s biggest wireless carrier,” Communications Workers of America President Chris Shelton said in a statement. “It’s an extremely profitable company. In July 2016, Verizon’s stock hit its highest price since 2000. It’s spending $4.83 billion to buy Yahoo’s Internet business. So why is Verizon closing call centers in New York?”

“It’s corporate greed at its worst,” he concluded. “Does this mean more jobs and more customer service problems will be shipped to Verizon overseas operations in the Philippines and other countries,” referring to a massive Verizon offshoring operation CWA uncovered in the Philippines.

The office of Governor Cuomo of New York, which will lose at least 850 jobs due to the cuts, also released a statement blasting Verizon Wireless’s cuts:

New York is invested in our workforce and we remain committed to keeping and creating well-paying jobs across the state. Governor Cuomo has directed the New York State Department of Labor to dispatch its Rapid Response team to assist employees during their time of transition, and we will work to reverse the impact of Verizon’s reckless decision. In this state, we will continue to stand up to those who put profit ahead of people.

Links:

Verizon Closing Call Centers 5 States, Including New York (ABC, Oct. 13, 2016)

Statement by Governor Cuomo and CWA Pres. Shelton on VZW Closings (CWA, Oct. 13, 2016)